Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Obama Hosts White House Iftar Dinner

On Monday night, President Obama hosted the White House's annual Iftar dinner recognizing the importance of Ramadan to Muslims around the world. In his remarks (full text), the President gave special recognition to one guest, Samantha Elauf, the successful complainant in the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Abercrombie & Fitch decision on the right to wear a hijab at work. (See prior posting.) Speaking to the guests that included members of the diplomatic corps and Congress, government officials and invited young people, Obama also said in part:

So tonight, we keep in our prayers those who are suffering around the world, including those marking Ramadan in areas of conflict and deprivation and hunger. The people of Iraq and Syria as they push back on the barbarity of ISIL. The people of Yemen and Libya, who are seeking an end to ongoing violence and instability. Those fleeing war and hardship in boats across the Mediterranean. The people of Gaza, still recovering from last year’s conflict. The Rohingya in Myanmar, including migrants at sea, whose human rights must be upheld.